PARIS — More than 100 international film directors, producers, actors and industry workers have signed an open letter to a French film festival to protest against its decision to highlight Israeli films.

Signatories including British directors Ken Loach and Mike Leigh, Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki and English-Australian actress Miriam Margolyes on Wednesday expressed “deep concern” at the festival’s decision “to associate with the Israeli government as it is intensifying occupation, settlement policy and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”

They urge the festival management to withdraw its partnership with Israeli authorities.

The FIPA festival this week in Biarritz, in southwestern France, aims to give the public the “opportunity to appreciate Israeli content and talent,” according to its website.

In previous years the festival focused on Australia, Canada and Spain.